todayyyyyy

I changed the table arrangements. So now instead of 8 around 4 big tables with a few backs towards me, I have 8 smaller tables with 4 around, no backs facing me. So to talk to someone, they will have to blatantly turn their backs to me. The 8th period class of 8th graders continues to be a challenge, but really it's the 3rd day. And this is the first full week. And it's a Monday. I'm not making excuses for them, I'm making myself aware of the reality. The most noticeable two disruptive boys, I wrote what I'm going to call a mini-referral. We have two different referral forms. This is documentation, to say I told them specifically that their behavior was not okay. I am going to tell them again Weds. this behavior is not okay. The teacher I'm subbing for came by after school, she dropped by but then I started talking about these kids and she started getting stressed out. And she's noted for being very strict. Everybody knows how strict she is, she has to be, to get stuff done. She, the strict one, who has been teaching for 20 years, thinks enough is enough. So I wonder how I'm going to go way way outside my usual comfort zone (I'm comfortable with a little noise) and fix the problem. One of the problems, today, was, a girl looked at me and said "I hate this class!" so I asked for some clarification and she said "It's too loud." and really I'm sure she's right. I know other people hated that class last year, and it's not the class, it's a few people in the class, who will not cooperate or behave. So I have options, she told me to go ahead and start calling parents about behavior. The student picks up the phone and calls the parent and explains what is going on.

Another problem in my head is, I have about 40-something minutes, and part of that has to be spent watching the PBIS instructional video the school administration made, which shows several delightful skits about how we behave, for example in the classroom, in the halls, in the lunch room and in the restroom. By 8th hour today they were very tired of seeing this. They are also the kids who have been pretty much doing whatever they want for their whole middle school career, and I guess it is easy to blame that on the previous administration, but I'm not sure what it is. I'm sure the previous class, now in 9th grade, was also fairly obnoxious behavior wise. Here's another problem, they are really funny enjoyable kids, except that they're misbehaving in my classroom. I really like them. Except they're freaking the other kids out. - The reason this is a problem is, everything I need to start doing takes so much time, and a portion of 40 minutes, once we get done with "stuff" there's no point in dragging out the folders, grabbing glue, whatever, because the bell is going to ring.

So I am pledging to do what is right, I am going to call, I'm going to send notes home, I'm going to write the little documentation referrals and I'm going to send people to detention. As soon as I learn what constitutes a detention-worthy offense. It hasn't really been explained to me. I think this might be because they haven't started having detention as far as I know.

I also need art bell ringers. And a big poster explaining the routine. A poster with the rules and consequences tooo. And some charts and graphs. And a million dollars.

One of the kids who was in teacher-school with me is offering $25,000 cash for any of the art teachers to retire so he can have their job. I really have no words.

It was so hot when I got home I had to close the windows and turn on the air conditioner.